Pharrell Williams has officially canceled his highly anticipated “Something in the Water” festival, which was scheduled to take place on October 12-13, 2024, at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. In a statement shared on social media, the Virginia native expressed that the event wasn’t ready to meet the high expectations he holds for his home state, declaring, “Virginia doesn’t deserve better, Virginia deserves THE BEST.”
Williams said that the decision was made out of love and respect for Virginia, stating, “Virginia made me, and I want to honor it with as much love as it’s shown me my entire life.” He revealed that the team behind the festival made the collective choice to postpone it to ensure the festival’s quality, now aiming for a relaunch in April 2025.
The festival, known for featuring top-tier performances from artists like Clipse, Usher, Post Malone, and Wu-Tang Clan, has become a cultural highlight for Virginia Beach, with Pharrell using it to give back to his community. Past events have encountered hurdles, including a day canceled due to weather and a temporary move to Washington, D.C., following the death of Pharrell’s cousin in a police-involved incident in Virginia Beach.
Williams assured fans that their festival passes will be refunded, and those who purchased tickets will have first access when the 2025 event is announced. He ended his message by thanking supporters and promising that the delayed festival will be “EPIC.”
Dearest Virginia, you deserve THE BEST. I promise it will be worth the wait. See you in April. All my love – P pic.twitter.com/X5z2fX1WcO
— SOMETHING IN THE WATER (@sitw) September 13, 2024
Pharrell is also currently promoting his upcoming documentary, Piece by Piece, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by Morgan Neville, the film takes a unique approach to chronicling his life story, using animated Lego characters in place of live actors.
